Chapter 5

ALEXANDRO

“Here is the rest of the information regarding Isabel Ramirez,” one of my trusted man said as he handed over the documents about Kai’s new nanny. “We spoke with Ms. Ramirez’s parents, and they confirmed she is truly their daughter. Her birth certificate and all other records proving her identity are included here as well.”

I read every detail written on the papers about Isabel. According to all of this, she had no relation whatsoever to Emily.

I let out a heavy breath. I had hoped... even believed that perhaps she really was Emily, or at least some kind of relative to my late wife.

“Very well. You may leave,” I replied coldly. He stepped out just as my cousin Charlie walked inside.

“Alex, I have good news,” he said, placing the files he held onto my desk. “I found the person responsible for the gas leak on the yacht nine years ago. I already had your men bring him in. He is waiting in the interrogation room at your safe house.”

I stood up immediately and left to find the man Charlie spoke of. I could not wait any longer to punish and make him pay for what he had done.

 

***

THE OLD MAN sitting bound before me was screaming and begging for mercy. I kept pressing him to admit whether he had caused the leak on purpose.

But no matter what I did, I could not get a straight answer. He kept denying everything and pleading for me to let him go.

“What the hell is wrong here, Charlie? Why won’t he admit it?” I snapped at my cousin.

“Maybe he was paid to keep quiet? We still don’t know who exactly wants to bring you down, Alex. Your empire is vast and powerful. There are plenty of people around you who would be happy to see you fall,” Charlie explained.

“Do you have any leads?” I asked.

“Not yet—”

“F*ck!” I hissed. “I can’t take this anymore! If none of you can find even a single useful detail, then I will handle this myself!”

Blinded by rage, I kicked the chair nearest to me. I looked back at the weeping old man, then at my men standing guard. I signaled for them to bring the questioning to an end for now.

 

***

ISABEL

“Here, Kai,” I said, offering her a piece of candy I had brought along. We sat quietly together in the backseat of the car on the way to her school. It turned out I was expected to come along every time she was dropped off or picked up.

She looked at me for a moment, then suddenly looked at the candy from my hand. A small smile formed on my face. Slowly but surely, this stubborn little girl was starting to warm up to me.

“Why are you always so nice to me? Why don’t you just leave?” Kai asked.

“Because I need to earn money. And how do you get money? By working, right?” I answered her question with one of my own.

“My Daddy could just give you a huge sum of money and you could go far away. I don’t want a nanny.”

I smiled at her words. “That isn’t the kind of person I am, Kai. I don’t ask for handouts. What I need is honest work. Besides, why do you dislike having a nanny so much? Your Daddy won’t let you stay here all alone without someone to look after you.”

“I don’t want a nanny because I want my mommy! I don’t want strangers taking care of me. I only want her!”

I fell silent for a moment. Now I finally understood exactly why she acted out so much.

“Kai.... I understand how you feel. Do you think you are the only one who grew up missing a mother? I went through the same thing, you know? After my accident, the couple who raised me told me they actually found me abandoned near their fence when I was just a baby. I had run away from home after finding out I was adopted, and got hurt in a bus crash. They waited until I recovered in the hospital to tell me the truth gently so I wouldn’t be too upset. In the end... I just learned to accept it,” I shared with her.

I noticed curiosity appear in her expression.

“Is that why you have that scar on your forehead? From the accident?” she asked. I nodded in reply. “That must have hurt a lot?”

“It sure did! I was stuck in the hospital for quite some time. You know what? Losing your mother hurts too, I know that. But you are still young, Kai, and you have so much life ahead of you. You have to take things one step at a time and learn to accept what has happened. Do you think your mommy would be happy if she saw you acting this way?”

She shook her head slowly.

“Exactly. So try to change how you treat people from now on. I promise you, she will be so proud seeing you grow into such a sweet girl. And I already know you are kind deep down..... and very smart too!”

I saw a soft smile touch her lips. “Thank you for saying that.”

“You are very welcome! Here, take this candy too. We are almost there. Later today, after you finish dinner, we can play a little bit before bedtime, okay? That will be our special secret,” I told her. Kai beamed and nodded excitedly in agreement.

 

***

I RETURNED to the mansion after seeing Kai off to school. I was heading upstairs toward her room to tidy things up when I noticed the door to sir Alex’s office on the ground floor was slightly open. I frowned, walked closer, and reached out to close it properly.

But as soon as I touched the handle, I saw papers scattered all over the floor... documents that must have fallen out of a folder. I stepped inside to pick them up and stack them neatly. It was only then that I realized what was written on them.... all the details were about me, and about something called the Lancaster Syndicate.

Billions of dollars in assets, businesses, properties, and operations were listed under that name.

“Why does sir Alex keep records like this?” I whispered to myself.

“You weren't supposed to see those.”

I looked sharply toward the doorway upon hearing sir Alex’s deep, cold voice. He stared right at me, his face serious and completely empty of emotion.

“I-I am so sorry, sir! I just wanted to pick them up and put them away,” I stammered while quickly gathering the papers and placing them onto his desk. “I really didn’t mean to intrude. I will just go—”

“Stay.”

I froze right where I stood, staring down at the floor. My heart was pounding wildly in my chest.

Sir Alex walked in, closed the door, and locked it securely behind him.

“What exactly are you doing inside my office? This is far beyond your duties, isn’t it?” he questioned, taking slow steps toward me.

“I-I saw the papers scattered everywhere and thought I should clean them up.... I truly didn’t mean to look—”

“Did you read everything you saw?” he pressed. I remained silent, unable to answer. “I am asking you a question.”

“Y-Yes, sir.... I did.”

I swallowed hard, trembling with nervousness. I looked up at him as he kept walking forward until he was standing right in front of me.

Our eyes met..... mine filled with fear, his sharp and intense.

“S-Sir Alex.....”

“Seeing all of this was a very big mistake, Isabel Ramirez,” he said lowly.

I felt my back press against the wall behind me. There was nowhere left for me to step back.

Sir Alex trapped me completely by placing his hands flat against the wall on either side of my shoulders, enclosing me within his arms.

I shivered even more at how close he stood.

“You are not going anywhere from now on, Ms. Ramirez. You work for me now.... and I am not just some wealthy businessman. I am a billionaire,. and the head of a powerful mafia.”